Notes from Around the NFL (Aug. 2)

Do you hear that? What is that? I’ll tell you what it is. That is the sound of the doors opening up to many training camps so far around the NFL. There is no doubt that that makes me happy. And with it comes some stories around the NFL; stories that have some fantasy football ramifications.

As it is time to be hot and heavy into studying and preparing for your draft I will be tackling a few issues that presented themselves to us this week and seeing how it will affect you fantasy value wise.

– Brett Favre has decided NOT to join the Minnesota Vikings after all; yet his former coach Steve Marriucci has said that Favre will continue to throw just in case. At this point people, if you were hoping that Favre would be coming to the Vikings and make a solid quarterback option, it is time to stop that thinking.

If he would have come back, he would have been a solid, lower-end QB2.

At this point all you can really rely on is that the team in purple will be rolling with Tarvaris Jackson (who just suffered a leg injury in camp) and Sage Rosenfels as their main quarterbacks. Whoever wins the job, don’t expect anything more than QB3 numbers during most weeks.

– Michael Vick has been reinstated under conditional terms. That is fine and all, but don’t expect teams to be clamoring over him, trying to obtain his services, as it most likely won’t happen.

He will end up somewhere where he can fill a solid role as a backup quarterback who can be thrown into some game action and mix things up perhaps with the Wildcat formation. But other than that, expect him to try and keep his face out of the media. His fantasy football value for 2009 is zilch.

– LaDainian Tomlinson held a conference to answer any and all questions that way he can get the weird offseason past him so he can focus on his goal; breaking Emmitt Smith’s record. Don’t look now, but perhaps the most talented running back in the NFL has a newfound goal. And that goal is to shut the critics up.

I have been a big fan of his for years and I also have been preaching all offseason that you shouldn’t forget about Tomlinson on draft day. I still think he will end up as a top-three fantasy football RB by season’s end.

And he is someone that many mock drafts have seen fall until the middle to latter part of the first round. If you are sitting at six or seven and he is still there, I for one will say that you are a lucky fantasy football owner.

– Tom Brady said that he expects to get some action in preseason games. That is good news as timing patterns in practice are one thing, but it is live game action that really sets the skills.

Whether he does or does not see action though, he remains a capable, top-end QB1 as long as he is in the lineup. And if the Patriots didn’t think that he would be, Matt Cassel would still be on the team.

– Andre Smith, who slipped in the NFL draft because of his lack of commitment and physical prowess, has now taken on another identity; a player that did not sign in time for the Bengals first practice. If there was one player in this draft that needed a full camp, it is this player.

Smith has the talent to be a force on the offensive line; someone that Carson Palmer and Cedric Benson could use. But this organization just seems to never be able to figure things out. What are the fantasy football ramifications of this? If he holds out much longer don’t be surprised if the coaches force him to earn a starting spot, rather than just handing it to him.

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Fantasy RBs: What to Look For (Best Receiving RBs)

Running backs are going to be your most consistent players throughout your fantasy season. That is why it is imperative that you spend much of your draft preparation focusing on them.

If you’re in a PPR league, every reception counts. So, while debating between players with similar rushing statistics, you can make the best pick by asking the following three questions:

1) How many targets did this RB receive in 2008 (or 3 year average if you think 2008 was an aberration)?
2) What kind of offense does this RB play in?
3) What is his competition like? Who is in on 3rd downs?
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1. You all know that Brian Westbrook and Reggie Bush are huge in the passing attack. But who are three other guys to look at in your draft that may receive a good amount of looks based on previous history?

Frank Gore (San Francisco 49ers)

In a down receiving year in 2008, he had 43 catches on 66 targets.  It was obvious that Gore was not utilized like he should have been in Mike Martz’s offense; so expect a few more dump-offs in this much more conservative, Jimmy Raye offense.

Perhaps bump Frank Gore up a spot ahead of the likes of Clinton Portis or DeAngelo Williams.

Projection: 57 catches, 562 yards

 

Derrick Ward (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Ward’s 55 targets ranked just outside of the top 15 in 2008, in semi-limited time. Well-known for having secure hands, Ward moves into a platoon where he expects to see more than half the carries for the Bucs.

The best part about his platoon with Earnest Graham is that Ward may stay in for a good amount of 3rd downs because of his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.

Whether Freeman or Leftwich wins the QB spot, they will be relying on Ward to make plays for what I believe will be an otherwise stagnant offense.

Projection: 48 catches, 492 yards

 

Leon Washington (New York Jets)

Granted, he does not see the bulk of the carries; but even in limited time, he produced. Unlike Ward, Washington was in the top 15 in targets in 2008, and caught 47 passes.

Leon’s got breakaway speed and can be a lethal threat in the offense that figures to be a more conservative, run-heavy offense because of new Head Coach Rex Ryan.

If Mark Sanchez wins the QB job, Washington will play an important role in his development.

Projection: 49 catches, 423 yards

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2. The offense that a RB plays in can be just as important as the player’s ability. In Indianapolis, Edgerrin James was always a threat to catch passes out of the backfield. In fact, he averaged over 50 catches per year through seven seasons (including an injury-plagued 2001).

In Arizona, he averaged 25 catches from 2006-08. Here are three RBs whose offense could generate a great amount of catches:

 

Ronnie Brown (Miami Dolphins)

Perhaps he wasn’t underutilized in the passing game in 2008, but he does figure to be on the field more often with Ricky Williams being less active.

With the weak-armed Chad Pennington as his QB, Ronnie Brown could see his catches increase substantially.

Projection: 51 catches, 631 yards

 

Rookies LeSean McCoy (Philadelphia Eagles) and Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts)

McCoy’s hands may have been the best in the 2009 draft (even better than WR Darrius Heyward-Bey). Donald Brown is not far behind. Both of these RB’s could generate a lot of targets through the air based on their offenses (Philly-WCO, Indy-PMO [Peyton Manning offense]).

Projections: McCoy: 35 catches, 310 yards. Brown: 27 catches, 246 yards

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3. Competition is inevitable at the position. Most teams have third down backs to replace their starters. The third down back is either a better receiving option (3rd and medium-longs) or a short-distance banger.

Here, though, are teams who don’t have a “third down back” to steal receptions away from the studs:

– San Francisco 49ers (Gore will handle most third downs; better receiving threat than Glenn Coffee)

– St. Louis Rams (Steven Jackson ditto, better receiver than Michael Pittman or Kenneth Darby)

– Jacksonville Jaguars (At least for the time being, Jones-Drew is their one and only)

– Houston Texans (Slaton is the man. Expect a huge receiving year)

– Detroit Lions (Kevin Smith handles all duties…though, will the offense be on the field long enough to record receptions and carries with any consistency?)

While I feel that it may be worthwhile to stretch a few picks for these RBs, keep in mind not to go crazy. In standard leagues, I would take these guys over players with similar rushing statistics. However, in PPR leagues, these are the real steals of the draft.

Remember, if at all possible, get your hands on the running backs with hands.

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*The above article was written by Bruno Boys Guest Columnist, Jacob Lerman. Jacob is the owner of his own fantasy sports blog, Fantasy Free Stylin’ in which he covers all fantasy sports. Please leave your feedback for Jacob in the comment section below.*

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When To Draft Reggie Bush in Points Per Reception Leagues

In this weeks edition of Bruno Boys Mailbag I will be tackling some hot topics that are surfacing in our Bruno Boys Message Board. If you haven’t already signed up for an account head over to our FORUMS (click to sign-up) and do so. Last but not least we will provide you with some valuable information on how everyone should use a Commish Kit Draft Board during their live fantasy football draft.

As always, if you have a question about a specific fantasy football player or need some draft strategy advice send an email to contact@brunoboys.net

and we will give you all the support needed to make you successful. With that being said. lets get started on the July 30th, 2009 edition of Bruno Boys Mailbag: Fantasy Football Q & A.

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QUESTION: Hey guys, I have the third pick and I can’t decide between [Maurice] Jones-Drew and [Matt] Forte. I’ve been looking at everything:  fantasy playoff schedule, o-line, etc. Jones-Drew’s schedule for weeks 13, 14, and 15: Houston, Miami, and Indianapolis (all home games). Forte’s schedule for weeks 13, 14, and 15:  St. Louis, Green Bay, and @ Baltimore. Jones-Drew’s o-line: Eugene Monroe, Vince Manuwai, Brad Meester, Maurice Williams, Eben Britton. Forte’s O-line: Orlando Pace, Josh Beekman, Olin Kreutz, Roberto Garza, Chris Williams. So, what does Bruno Boys nation think? — Antsant9397 (Bruno Boys Forum)

ANSWER: Ant…I agree with all of the above on this…the choice is Maurice Jones-Drew. He has been touchdown machine (38 in three NFL seasons) and with no Fred Taylor, he should exceed his career high of 14 TDs this season. MJD has never reached the 200 carry mark, but with no RBBC you can forecast around 240-260 carries and over 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career.

No doubt about it, Matt Forte will be a RB1 in 2009, but expect a more balanced approach from the Chicago offense and for Forte to not be as heavily relied on as he was in 2008. He’s still the focal point of the Bears’ offense, but you better believe Jay Cutler wants to post solid numbers as well.

Finally, if your gut says Forte, don’t hesitate to do it, because it’s your team and your stomach ache if Forte shines and MJD struggles, but if I was sitting in your position the choice would be MJD. Best of Luck in 2009!

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QUESTION: In a 12 team PPR league snake draft, what is the earliest Reggie Bush should be taken?—Pokermaster1 (Bruno Boys Forum)

ANSWER: Pokermaster1…Thanks for the question, as this is one we definitely get a lot.

The value of Reggie Bush fluctuates so much depending on your league’s scoring system. In standard leagues, we peg Bush as the 48th best available player in our Top 150 Rankings, which means he would be worthy of a fourth round selection. However, obviously, thanks to his impressive receiving skills, Bush’s value jumps in PPR leagues. So, the question becomes how high does he jump up the board?

In assessing Bush’s value in PPR leagues, it’s crucial to remember two things that owners will overlook: first, Bush may be an excellent receiver, but there are other backs in the league that can also catch the ball out of the backfield (maybe not as well as Bush), and many of these backs can also do a lot more on the ground than Bush, meaning they should remain ahead of the back regardless of the league.

Secondly, a PPR league also increases the value of wide receivers meaning that some that would be behind Bush in standard leagues will jump ahead of him in PPR leagues, causing his rise up the charts to be a bit more limited than one might initially think. Taking all of this into consideration, in a PPR league, I believe Bush becomes a mid- to late-third round option. Best of Luck in 2009!

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2009 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings

A youth movement is occurring at the wide receiver position. In fact, the position has become so dominated by the young guns that seven of the top-10 fantasy football wide receivers from 2008 have yet to hit the big 3-0 (Steve Smith, Terrell Owens, and Randy Moss were the exceptions).

As such, you’ll notice a changing of the guard some-what in his year’s wide receiver rankings, with Leapin’ Larry Fitzgerald leaping all the way to the top, followed closely by Houston Texans’ stud, Andre Johnson, while former stud Chad Ochocinco falls out of the top-20 and old reliable, Torry Holt, plummets out of the top-30.

 

TIER 1

1. Larry Fitzgerald—Arizona Cardinals (Bye: Week 4)

It would have been intriguing to go inside the mind of Fitzgerald as he was in the midst of outrunning every Pittsburgh Steelers defender to the end zone during his 64-yard touchdown reception in the Super Bowl last season, if only to find out if he was thinking of all the people who have criticized his speed in the past. Rest assured that those critics are silent now. Last season Fitzgerald caught 96 passes and set career-highs in receiving yards (1,431) and touchdown receptions (12). He’s been a model of consistency throughout his five-year career, and has caught at least eight touchdown passes in every season that he’s played a minimum of 15 games.

Last year, during the Cardinals’ surprising four-game playoff run that culminated in a Super Bowl appearance, Fitzgerald had at least six catches, one touchdown and 100 receiving yards in each contest. Those performances undoubtedly helped catapult him into the No. 1 overall spot among fantasy football wide receivers throughout the industry. He’ll only be 26 when the season starts, and despite some changes among Arizona’s coaching staff, there’s no reason to believe the former Pittsburgh star’s performance will ebb.  Another 95+ catches, 1,400+ receiving yards and 10+ scores are virtually guaranteed if he is healthy.

 

2. Andre Johnson—Houston Texans (Bye: Week 10)

If asked who the No. 4 passing offense in the NFL was last season, most people would likely rattle off a number of teams—Indianapolis, Dallas, Green Bay, Philadelphia—before thinking about the Texans. But indeed, Houston did claim that fourth spot by throwing for nearly 267 yards per game. The catalyst for that aerial incursion was Johnson. He had eight games with at least 110 receiving yards, including a momentous four-game stretch in which he hauled in at least nine passes for 130 receiving yards in each.

The former Miami star was on his way to setting all kinds of career-highs in 2007, but injury ended that campaign early, forcing his fantasy football owners were to wait until last season. His start to 2008 was auspicious, as he caught 10 passes for 112 yards in Week 1, but after a hurricane forced Houston to take their bye in Week 2, Johnson came back meekly, combining for just five receptions and 67 receiving yards in Weeks 3 and 4. It was lights out from that point forward though, and his 115 catches, 1,575 receiving yards and eight touchdowns matched or set career highs. With a healthy Matt Schaub coming into his own, Johnson should continue his dominance and put up numbers comparable to last season.

 

3. Randy Moss—New England Patriots (Bye: Week 8)

On Sunday, Sept. 7 of last year, hospitals nationwide reported an unusual preponderance of heart attack patients, each of whom had one common thread—they played fantasy football. Astute readers will recall that was the same day that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady injured his knee and was lost for the season. Okay, it’s possible we’re exaggerating about the heart attack thing, but the point is that Brady’s injury had consequences that were far-reaching. One of those that suffered was clearly Moss. Though he still wound up with a solid overall season, hauling in 69 passes for 1,002 yards and 11 scores, it was nowhere close to the juggernaut campaign he put up in 2007, when he caught 98 passes for nearly 1,500 yards and 23 touchdowns.

But now that Brady has made his triumphant return, big things are once again expected out of Moss. It would be foolhardy to assume he’ll post numbers similar to his 2007 output, but the 32-year-old should see a vast improvement in his overall stats, and thus his consistency. Moss had five games last season in which he recorded fewer than 30 receiving yards, and in only one of those games did he score a touchdown. In fact, Moss failed to reach 60 receiving yards in exactly half of the Patriots’ games a year ago. Still, don’t let that cloud your judgment. Fifteen touchdowns are certainly within his grasp and the player who has rightfully been dubbed The Freak will once again return to prominence with the help of an old friend.

 

4. Calvin Johnson—Detroit Lions (Bye: Week 7)

Sometime in the distant future, should a modern-day Doc Frankenstein endeavor to reanimate a creature to turn into a wide receiver, he would only need to go to one grave—Johnson’s. But enough of the morbid imagery, this is about fantasy football, and specifically, the fantasy of having the man they call Megatron on your side. He was about the only thing Lions fans had to be positive about last season, as he snared 78 passes for 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns. Just think of what he would have been able to do if he played on a team that wasn’t the worst in NFL history.

Johnson has so much talent it oozes out of his nostrils. He’s forced to carry Kleenex around with him so he doesn’t make a mess of things. Due to that aptitude, there is every reason to believe Johnson will take another step forward in 2009. It shouldn’t matter whether Daunte Culpepper or Matthew Stafford is throwing Johnson the ball—if they get it near him, he’ll catch it. It can be easy to downgrade him because of the situation in Detroit, but doing so would be a mistake. He’ll once again score double-digit touchdowns while moving past the 80-catch barrier for the first time.

 

TIER 2

5. Reggie Wayne—Indianapolis Colts (Bye: Week 6)
6. Steve Smith—Carolina Panthers (Bye: Week 4)
7. Roddy White—Atlanta Falcons (Bye: Week 4)
8. Greg Jennings—Green Bay Packers (Bye: Week 5)

 

TIER 3

9. Anquan Boldin—Arizona Cardinals (Bye: Week 4)
10. Marques Colston—New Orleans Saints (Bye: Week 5)
11. Brandon Marshall—Denver Broncos (Bye: Week 7)
12. Terrell Owens—Buffalo Bills (Bye: Week 9)
13. Wes Welker—New England Patriots (Bye: Week 8)

 

TIER 4

14. Dwayne Bowe—Kansas City Chiefs (Bye: Week 8)
15. T.J. Houshmandzadeh—Seattle Seahawks (Bye: Week 9)
16. Roy Williams—Dallas Cowboys (Bye: Week 6)
17. Antonio Bryant—Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Bye: Week 8)
18. Braylon Edwards—Cleveland Browns (Bye: Week 9)
19. Vincent Jackson—San Diego Chargers (Bye: Week 5)

 

TIER 5

20. DeSean Jackson—Philadelphia Eagles (Bye: Week 4)
21. Chad Ochocinco—Cincinnati Bengals (Bye: Week 8)
22. Lee Evans—Buffalo Bills (Bye: Week 9)
23. Santonio Holmes—Pittsburgh Steelers (Bye: Week 8)
24. Hines Ward—Pittsburgh Steelers (Bye: Week 8)

 

TIER 6

25. Bernard Berrian—Minnesota Vikings (Bye: Week 9)
26. Anthony Gonzalez—Indianapolis Colts (Bye: Week 6)
27. Santana Moss—Washington Redskins (Bye: Week 8)
28. Jerricho Cotchery—New York Jets (Bye: Week 9)
29. Lance Moore—New Orleans Saints (Bye: Week 5)
30. Eddie Royal—Denver Broncos (Bye: Week 7)
31. Donald Driver—Green Bay Packers (Bye: Week 5)
32. Laveranues Coles—Cincinnati Bengals (Bye: Week 8)

 

TIER 7

33. Kevin Walter—Houston Texans (Bye: Week 10)
34. Torry Holt—Jacksonville Jaguars (Bye: Week 7)
35. Donnie Avery—St. Louis Rams (Bye: Week 9)
36. Steve Breaston—Arizona Cardinals (Bye: Week 4)

To see the rest of the rankings and to read all 80 WIDE RECEIVER player profiles and check out the rest of our 2009 FANTASY FOOTBALL WIDE RECEIVER RANKINGS click this link... FREE FANTASY FOOTBALL PLAYER RANKINGS

Fantasy Football Notes: San Francisco 49ers

After finishing the 2007 season with a very disappointing 5-11 record, San Francisco 49ers fans had higher hopes heading into 2008. The high hopes were largely a result of the team bringing in an “offensive genius” in new offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who was supposed to help the offense make drastic improvements and help turn quarterback Alex Smith into the player the 49ers expected he would become when they drafted him first overall in the 2005 NFL draft.

But, things did not quite work out as expected as Smith injured his shoulder in training camp, leading to a trip to the injured reserved. This left Martz with two journeymen quarterbacks, J.T. O’Sullivan and Shaun Hill to work with.

The result was a rough start to the season. After seven games, San Francisco was just 2-5, leading to the in-season firing of head coach Mike Nolan. Nolan was replaced on an interim basis by assistant coach Mike Singletary.

Singletary’s reign did not get off to the best start. Not only did the 49ers go on to lose their first two games under the new head coach, but Singletary, also, had an altercation with tight end Vernon Davis that left many people wondering if he was the right choice to take over the team. Singletary, though, would silence his doubters.

After losing his first two games as head coach, Singletary and the 49ers won five of their next seven to finish the season with a 7-9 record, leading the Niners to reward Singletary with a 4-year deal.

While the team would have loved to finish the year at .500, there were plenty of things to be excited about come season’s end. None more important than the fact that team may have found a potential starting quarterback in Shaun Hill.

Hill, who would start the final eight games for the 49ers, led the team to a 5-3 record in those games while passing for 2,046 yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. In doing so, Hill has earned himself a chance to compete with Alex Smith for the starting quarterback job in 2009.

KEY ADDITIONS

Damon Huard (QB) – Huard was brought in to add some depth to the quarterback position. He is a 12-year pro who has played for the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and most recently the Kansas City Chiefs. He started 21 games over the past three seasons for the Chiefs, but has never managed to be consistent enough to hold onto the starting job. He will likely be good training camp competition for Alex Smith and Shaun Hill, but it is unlikely Huard will come out of camp as the starting quarterback.

Moran Norris (FB) – Norris became a casualty of the Mike Martz experiment. He was cut by the 49ers after training camp in 2008 because Martz’s offense did not call for much use for a full back. Norris spent the 2008 season with the Detroit Lions, starting eight games. The addition of Norris back into the 49ers offense could be a big one. He is a big run blocker and was the fullback in 2006 when running back Frank Gore had his best season going for a franchise record 2,180 combined yards from scrimmage.

KEY DEPARTURE

Mike Martz (OC) – The addition of Mike Martz as the 49ers offensive coordinator ended up being a one-year experiment. It would be unfair to say that Martz failed in San Francisco, as the 49ers’ offensive numbers were respectable as the team rose from being the 32nd best offense in 2007 to the 23rd best in 2008. However, after changing head coaches mid-way through the season, Martz became expendable when San Francisco announced that Mike Singletary would become the teams new head coach.

ROOKIES TO WATCH

Michael Crabtree (WR) – Every year there seems to be a player that slips in the first round and is drafted a little later than most people predicted. This year it was Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree. Ranked as the number one wide receiver prospect by many of the experts, Crabtree was projected to go as high as the fourth overall pick, but whether it was because he wasn’t able to workout for teams because of off-season foot surgery or questions about his attitude, the 49ers were happy to land him with the tenth overall pick. Crabtree, who finished his sophomore season at Texas Tech with 93 receptions for 1,135 yards with 18 touchdowns in 12 games, gives the 49ers a legitimate WR1 for the first time since T.O. left.

He is expected to be fully recovered from foot surgery in time to be ready for the beginning of the 49ers training camp and has a chance to earn a spot as one of San Francisco’s starting wide receivers in 2009. In addition to being an excellent receiver, Crabtree is also an excellent blocker at the wide receiver spot.

BRUNO BOYS SPOTLIGHT

Isaac Bruce (WR) – When Bruce signed with San Francisco as a free agent prior to the 2008 season, not too much was expected. Many thought that the 14-year veteran from St. Louis would bring some much needed leadership to a young 49ers team, but that was about it. Not only, though, was he a great leader to an otherwise young receiving core, he also contributed 61 receptions for 835 yards with seven touchdowns.

Bruce is expected to be one of the two starting wide receivers for the 49ers in 2009, but it may be a lot to expect 2008 type numbers from Bruce again. He is entering his 16th professional season and San Francisco has some good young talent at wide receiver in rookie Michael Crabtree and second year man Josh Morgan. Bruce shouldn’t be considered much more then a WR4, but after 2008 he is definitely worth a late round flier.

Vernon Davis (TE) – Davis’ statistics were very disappointing in 2008, as he finished the season with 31 receptions for 358 yards with two touchdowns. He did not fit in with Mike Martz offense and had problems with new head coach Mike Singletary. 2009 could bring new life for Davis. Martz is no longer with the team and new offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye’s offense likes to use the tight end as a focal point. Davis and Singletary have also seemed to put their differences behind them. There are still a lot of question marks with Davis who has been a bust thus far in his career, consider him a TE2 heading into fantasy drafts this summer worth a late round selection.

Josh Morgan (WR) – As a rookie Morgan was a pleasant surprise for the 49ers last season. He finished the year with 20 receptions for 319 yards and three touchdowns in limited playing time. Morgan has reportedly been very good in off-season workouts with the 49ers and will likely compete for a starting wide receiver spot with rookie Michael Crabtree. Keep a close eye on the wide receiver battle in San Francisco throughout training camp, but even if Morgan does not secure a starting role with the team he is worth a late round flier as a potential sleeper wide receiver in 2009. 

*THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY LARRY JOSEPH. FOR MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL INSIGHT AND ADVICE, CLICK THE LINK BELOW…*

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No Adrian: Five Guys To Take Over Minnesota’s Peterson For Fantasy’s No. 1 Pick

Last week, I posted an article titled, Five Reasons Not to Take Adrian Peterson No. 1 (to read the article, click here). The jist of the article focused on the idea that while Peterson seems to be a unanimous choice as the No. 1 overall pick for the 2009 fantasy season, there are still red flags surrounding the Minnesota Vikings’ running back that fantasy owners should be aware of. The feedback I got from this article was a bit surprising.

To be honest, while writing the piece, I imagined Bruno Boys Nation coming at me with pitchforks and torches for spouting such blasphemy against the new Lord of Fantasy. However, the comments I got proved to be just the opposite.

Many of you out there were thrilled to see someone bring to light the chinks in Peterson’s armor. And many of you in your e-mails asked that I take the argument to the next level and highlight some of the backs that I believe are capable of challenging Peterson for the top spot.

Well, Bruno Boys Nation, as always, I’m here simply to serve your whims (of course, that’s assuming they are within reason), so sit back and take in the Five Guys Not Named Peterson to Consider Your No. 1.

1. Michael Turner (Atlanta Falcons)

By now, every fantasy owner is quite familiar with the “370 carry curse” that many experts expect to plague Turner in 2009, but are you really going to let a supposed curse dictate your draft? Ok, maybe the Madden Curse, yes. But, this one, I’m not buying it.

Yes, Turner had a full workload in 2008, but remember, prior to last year, the man hadn’t carried the ball more than 80 times in any of his four seasons in the league, meaning those 376 rushes he had in 2008 aren’t nearly as much a concern as they would be for the likes of a Clinton Portis.

Throw in the fact that defenses now have to worry about Roddy White and Hall of Fame tight end, Tony Gonzalez in the passing game; thereby, preventing them from stacking the box as often against Turner and there’s no reason he shouldn’t at least match the 12 double-digit outings he posted in 2008.

2. Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville Jaguars)

In his first three seasons in the NFL, MJD has gone for 15, 9, and 14 total TDs. And, as any fantasy owner can tell you, TDs in the fantasy world are golden.

The craziest thing about MJD’s TD totals is that he did all that with Fred Taylor in the mix. Appeasing fantasy owners everywhere, the Jags parted ways with the aging veteran, meaning it’s now the “Jones-Drew Show” in Jacksonville. A back, who has never reached the 200 carry plateau, MJD should easily surpass that mark in 2009 with around 240-260 rushes, making the 209 fantasy points he compiled in 2008 a low-mark for 2009.

Don’t forget, too, that the Jags worked heavily this offseason, using their first (Eugene Monroe) and second round (Eben Britton) picks and signing Pro-Bowl free agent, Tra Thomas, to beef up their offensive line, which was a major weakness last season due to injuries.

To make this simple for all of you, when you think MJD in 2009 simply remember this equation “More Touches + Better O-Line = Big Year Ahead for Thunder Thighs.”

3. Matt Forte (Chicago Bears)

The focal point of the Bears’ offense in 2008, Forte seemed to matter-of-factly put up double-digit fantasy points in 13 of his 16 games as a rookie as he amassed 1,715 total yards and 12 total TDs. Those numbers landed Forte Rookie of the Year honors and push him into the debate regarding the No. 1 overall fantasy selection for 2009.

Considering the cast around him in 2008, Forte’s numbers are even more impressive. You didn’t have to be a genius to know the Bears were going to try and get him the ball, which means defenses were keyed on the rookie each and every down.

Still, Forte did not let that stop him, something fantasy owners should recognize as 2009 is lining up in such a way that things should be a bit easier for Forte when he gets the ball. In acquiring stud quarterback, Jay Cutler, the Bears’ passing game earns immediate respect, resulting in less eight men in the box fronts for Forte to deal with.

4. DeAngelo Williams (Carolina Panthers)

You can’t create a list of guys to take No. 1 in a fantasy draft without including last season’s leading point getter among running backs. The main concern with Williams heading into 2009 is the presence of sophomore running back, Jonathan Stewart. But, with 183 carries in 2008, it wasn’t exactly like Stewart was a non-factor in the Panthers’ game plan.

Williams was just that good, averaging 5.5 yards per carry, which allowed him to do what he did with his 272 carries. In fact, Williams has averaged 5.1 yards per catch in his career as a whole, so while he may get less touches than some of the other big names, that doesn’t mean he’s numbers will be less.

Plus, why not take the guy who had 20 TDs last year with the first pick?

5. LaDainian Tomlinson (San Diego Chargers)

With the way some fantasy owners have written LT off for 2009, you’d think he had a Shaun Alexander or Larry Johnson-type down year last season. But in reality, LT only had what was considered a “down year” because he’s been so phenomenal throughout his career. After all, the guy still finished sixth among RBs in fantasy points in 2008, only 21 points behind Peterson, and had double-digit outings in 13 of 16 games.

According to Norv Turner, LT looks healthier than ever, prompting the coach to suggest he could easily get over 300 carries in 2009. If that’s the case, LT could easily be back on top after 2009, especially with the chip he has on his shoulder.

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Fantasy Football Notes: Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a terrific 2008 season, capped by a 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII in head coach Mike Tomlin’s second year at the helm. However, despite the team’s success, the offense left much to be desired as the Steelers did not rank higher than 17th in any major offensive category.

Luckily, the Steelers’ boasted the premier defense in the league. The unit ranked first in points allowed, total yards allowed and passing yards allowed, while finishing second in rushing yards allowed, as they carried the team throughout the season.

Number wise, Ben Roethlisberger finished the year with 3,301 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. His favorite target continued to be Hines Ward, who led the team in receiving with 81 catches for 1,043 yards and seven touchdowns, while Santonio Holmes had 55 receptions for 821 yards and five touchdowns. (Holmes, also, made the spectacular catch over three Arizona defenders in the corner of the end zone that clinched the Super Bowl for Pittsburgh.)

Meanwhile, Willie Parker rushed for 791 yards and five touchdowns on 210 carries; splitting time with Parker was Mewelde Moore, who had 588 yards and five touchdowns on 140 attempts.

KEY ADDITION

The Steelers did not add any key players during the off-season.

KEY DEPARTURE

Byron Leftwich (QB) – Leftwich was a solid backup quarterback behind Roethlisberger; however, Big Ben, despite the numerous injuries that have befallen him, is a fairly durable quarterback, playing in 15-plus games in each of the past three seasons. Thus, the lost of Leftwich shouldn’t impact the team too greatly.

Bryant McFadden (CB) – Losing McFadden is perhaps the biggest blow the Steelers took this offseason. McFadden was a solid corner for the Steelers and he knew the system well, playing four years with the team. Ike Taylor and Deshea Townsend will stay, so the secondary should remain solid, but the loss of McFadden will be felt.

Nate Washington (WR) – Washington had shown flashes of becoming a solid second-receiving option during his time in Pittsburgh, but was too inconsistent to get there. Case and point: his 2008 season. While Washington was able to find pay dirt for three straight weeks in weeks 5, 7, and 8 (Week 6 was a bye week), those were the receiver’s only scores on the year.  With the emergence of Holmes and Hines Ward not slowing down, the loss of Washington should be one the team can overcome.

ROOKIE TO WATCH

Evander Hood (DE) – One of the biggest areas that the Steelers needed to improve on during this offseason was the defensive line. In landing former Missouri defensive lineman, Evander Hood, who will play as an end for Pittsburgh, the Steelers took a huge step towards doing just that. Hood stands 6’3” and weighs 300 lbs but can move greater than his size would suggest. He looks to be a perfect fit in the Steelers’ 3-4 defense.

BRUNO BOYS SPOTLIGHT

Ben Roethlisberger (QB) – Roethlisberger didn’t quite meet fantasy owners’ expectations in 2008 as he compiled just 17 passing TDs, a far cry from the 32 he had in 2007. Still, while fantasy owners’ may be a bit disappointed with Big Ben’s stats from last season, they cannot deny that the man rises to the occasion when the Steelers need him most. Roethlisberger is the penultimate gamer, making plays out of nothing when it counts the most. That may not make him the best fantasy QB, but it does make him fun to watch.

Rashard Mendenhall (RB) – Mendenhall missed the majority of last season after suffering a fractured shoulder in a week four matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, which also happened to be his first professional start. With Parker slowing down and Moore too inconsistent to be relied upon, Mendenhall will be counted on to play a big role this season, provided he can stay healthy. If he does, expect more than 100 carries for Mendenhall.

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Fantasy Football Crystal Ball: Matt Ryan

Rookie quarterbacks are not supposed to play well. Rookie quarterbacks are not supposed to lead their team to the playoffs. And as fantasy football owners know, rookie quarterbacks are not supposed to be relevant in fantasy football.

Apparently, Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback Matt Ryan did not get that memo.

Ryan was essentially handed the job upon being drafted, but as he took over a team with only one legitimate weapon in wide receiver Roddy White, most assumed the young quarterback was a year or two away from being relevant in fantasy football. Then, he goes out and throws a 62-yard touchdown pass to Michael Jenkins on the very first attempt of his professional career.

Of course, we know now that an improved offensive line and a great free-agent addition in running back Michael Turner really helped turned the Falcons into a winner last season. Those two things also allowed Ryan to grow into the job without being overwhelmed by it at the same time. Ryan ended up having quite a successful season as he threw for 3,440 yards with 16 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 61.1 completion percentage.

The big question is this: Does Ryan have staying power or was last season a fluke?

The good news for Falcons’ fans is not only does Ryan have staying power, but he’s got the skill set to turn into one of the league’s top passers some day. Looking at his numbers, you can see this as his completion percentage was above 60, he had a positive touchdown-to-interception ratio, averaged more than seven yards per attempt, and posted an impressive 87.7 quarterback rating. For any player that’s pretty impressive, but for a rookie that’s incredible.

Another reason to like Ryan for the upcoming season and the future is the free agent signing of tight end Tony Gonzalez, who goes to Atlanta after an illustrious 12-year career as a Kansas City Chief. The Falcons already have a good tight end in Ben Hartsock, but his strength is blocking, whereas Gonzalez is the top pass-catching tight end in the league.

Last season, despite having to deal with three different quarterbacks in Kansas City, none of which were too good, Gonzalez caught 96 passes for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns. His presence in the lineup will help open up the offense considerably. Before, teams could focus most of their attention to running back Michael Turner and White, but now Gonzalez will add that third dimension that makes it tough for opposing defenses. In addition, Gonzalez gives Ryan a great red-zone target as White is better between the 20s and Jenkins is just too inconsistent.

Perhaps the one negative against Ryan is that at the end of the season last year he tailed off. In the last three games of the regular season, Ryan threw four interceptions with just two touchdowns, and saw his completion percentage drop from 65.2 to 54.2 to 47.6. However that is an extremely small sample size, and it did come at the end of the season, which is a tough time for rookies who haven’t adjusted to the extended schedule of the NFL. It should be noted that although Ryan did not play well in those three games, the Falcons did win all of them.

Ryan brings a lot to the table. He’s a great leader and is a lot of fun to watch on the field. He’s going to continue to grow and develop as a quarterback, and considering he’s only entering his second season, it will be interesting to how far his growth goes.

But, what Ryan also brings to the table is consistency. He has great ability to play well from week to week, and that’s something fantasy football owners love. Ryan may not go out and throw 40 touchdowns or 4,500 yards this season but from a fantasy perspective, he’s not going to lose you any games.

 

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Will JaMarcus Russell Turn The Page In 2009?

After finishing the 2006 season with a dismal 2-14 record, the Oakland Raiders have made strides, improving their win-loss record from both 2006 to 2007 and 2007 to 2008. The problem is that even in doing so, the Raiders still had just five wins last season. In fact, the team hasn’t surpassed the five-win mark since 2002.

So, what part of their game was lacking in 2008? How about all of it?

On the defensive side of the ball, Oakland gave up the ninth most points per game (24.2) and the sixth most yards per game (360.9) in the league. Perhaps a team with any semblance of an offense could have weathered that storm, but an offensive dynamo, the Raiders were not.

Quarterback, JaMarcus Russell, who played in 15 games during his sophomore campaign, amassed just 2,423 passing yards, 13 TDs, and 8 INTs. While the TD to INT ratio isn’t that bad, the rest of the numbers are, and they are a big reason the team ranked dead last in passing in the NFL last season.

The ground game fared a bit better with Justin Fargas, Darren McFadden, and Michael Bush combining for 1,773 rushing yards, helping the Raiders finish in the top 10 in rushing yards in 2008. However, the team did tie with the Kansas City Chiefs for the fourth fewest rushing TDs on the year with nine.

If things keep going this way, Oakland may be better off suiting up some of the members of the infamous “black hole” than the guys that they currently trot out onto the field week in and week out.

 

KEY ADDITION

Jeff Garcia (QB)—All indications are that JaMarcus Russell will be the team’s starting quarterback come week one of the season, but adding Garcia to the mix does two things for the Raiders.

First, it brings a veteran presence to the team’s quarterback position—something the team did not have last season and something that could greatly benefit Russell’s development, if Garcia is willing to mentor the young QB. Secondly, it gives the team a legitimate “plan B” should Russell and the offense struggle out of the gate.

The one-year, $1 million deal the Raiders gave the vet could indeed pay off big time.

 

KEY DEPARTURE

Gibril Wilson (S)—Not only did Wilson finish second on the Raiders in total tackles with 129, but those 129 tackles made him the league leader among DBs. Still, the Raiders did not feel Wilson was worth the extravagant contract they had awarded him following the 2007 season and released the safety following 2008.

The move is probably wise as the Raiders did over pay for Wilson’s services; however, the team will still miss the hard-hitting 27 year-old.

 

BRUNO BOYS SPOTLIGHT

JaMarcus Russell (QB)—2008 may have been Russell’s second year in the league, but due to a lengthy hold out prior to his rookie season that caused the QB to miss a big chunk of training camp, it was more like season 1.5 for the Raiders’ QB. That showed in his numbers as Russell managed just 2,423 passing yards, 13 passing TDs, and 8 INTs in 15 games.

Granted, the Raiders didn’t do Russell any favors with the receivers they provided him with (Johnnie Lee Higgins should not be any NFL team’s top receiver), which is probably why Russell was often satisfied with dumping the ball to tight end, Zach Miller, and running back, Darren McFadden.

The team tried to help Russell’s cause by taking a wide out with the seventh pick of this year’s draft, but seemed to have fouled that one up, too, by taking Darius Heyward-Bey over Michael Crabtree. Thus, look for Russell to struggle again in 2009, especially if his accuracy issues continue as he completed just 53.8 percent of his passes in 2008.

Darren McFadden (RB)—During his rookie campaign, McFadden did show flashes of his amazing explosiveness and play-making ability. Perhaps, no better example is his 21 carry, 164 rushing yards, and one TD week two performance against the Chiefs.

However, turf toe hampered the back for the majority of the season, and like kryptonite is to Super Man, so, too is turf toe to a speedy back.

Now, healthy, look for McFadden to become a bigger part of the Raiders’ offense as the team attempts to utilize his dual threat abilities, making him a low-end RB2/ high-end RB3 for 2009.

 

ROOKIE TO WATCH

Darius Heyward-Bey (WR)—Throughout his whole career, fans will compare Heyward-Bey to 49ers’ wide receiver, Michael Crabtree. The comparisons will come to no fault of Heyward-Bey’s, but rather due to Al Davis’ insane infatuation with speed.  While Heyward-Bey’s 40-yard dash was impressive, it will mean little if the wide out continues to run sloppy routes and drops passes.

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Fantasy Football Notes: Philadelphia Eagles

To say the 2008 season was a roller coaster ride for the Philadelphia Eagles would be an understatement.

After going 5-5-1 over the first 12 weeks of the season, the Eagles had to turn it up a notch over the final five weeks in order to keep their playoff chances alive. Riding the hot hand of previously benched Donovan McNabb, the Eagles did just that as they won four of their final five games to backdoor themselves into the playoffs.

Needing to beat the Dallas Cowboys in the final week of the season, a fired up Philadelphia squad scored early and often en route to a 44-6 win and a meeting with the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round.

The playoffs where no different as Philadelphia took care of Minnesota in the Wild Card round and the New York Giants in the Divisional round to set-up a meeting with the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game.

This marked the fifth time in 10 years that head coach Andy Reid has taken his squad to the NFC Championship game, but for the fourth time, they failed to reach the Super Bowl as they lost a shoot-out by the score of 32-25.

The three biggest fantasy football contributors were McNabb, Brian Westbrook and rookie DeSean Jackson. McNabb finished the season with 23 touchdown passes to just 11 interceptions, and his five total TD’s during the fantasy playoffs paid dividends to owners.

Westbrook was able to finish the season as a top-10 running back, but his statistics were skewed by four big games. Other than that, Westbrook played more as a RB2 and his nagging injuries forced fantasy owners to hit the panic button throughout the season.

The biggest surprise was Jackson, who took advantage of injuries at the wide receiver position to haul in 62 receptions for 912 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson was taken as a late round flier in most fantasy leagues only to see himself being used as a low-end WR2 by season’s end.

 

KEY ADDITIONS

Jason Peters (OL) & Stacy Andrews (OL): It’s not often that you lose two staples on your offensive line to free agency and during the same offseason, replace them with perennial Pro Bowlers.

However, this was the case in Philadelphia as the Eagles lost Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan to new teams only to make a trade with Buffalo for Jason Peters and sign free agent Stacy Andrews. Since entering the league five years ago Peters has made the Pro Bowl twice and you can make a case he’s been the best left tackle in all of football.

As for Andrews, he joins his brother Shawn in Philadelphia and should fill in adequately at right guard. Both of these moves should help the Eagles improve their 22nd ranked rushing offense of a year ago.

 

KEY DEPARTURE

L.J. Smith (TE): The loss of offensive lineman Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas are the biggest offseason departures in Philadelphia but neither of these guys has scored a fantasy football point during their career so they don’t make our list. 

As for Smith, he had worn out his welcome in Philadelphia and the timing was right for him to sign with the Baltimore Ravens. After a promising 2006 & 2007 season, Smith missed nine games since 2007 and never really found his groove with McNabb.

A sub-par postseason in 2008 and the emergence of back-up tight end Brent Celek was enough to convince the Eagles brass to part ways with their veteran tight end.

 

ROOKIES TO WATCH

Jeremy Maclin (WR): As a sophomore at the University of Missouri, Maclin had 102 receptions for 1,260 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Those numbers have caused him to enter the NFL with a lot of hype surrounding him.

Maclin was pegged as the best wide receiver in the draft by many scouts around the league, but an average combine saw him fall on draft day. With the 19th overall pick, the Eagles drafted Maclin and they expect him to be an impact player for years to come.

In many ways Maclin is a carbon copy of teammate DeSean Jackson—as both wide outs use their speed and athletic ability to beat defenders deep—but don’t expect him to duplicate the rookie success that Jackson saw last season. Reason being, Philadelphia has depth at the position and quarterback Donovan McNabb likes to get everyone involved in the offense.

LeSean McCoy (RB): No doubt about it the Eagles had arguably the best draft in the NFL this year and the drafting of McCoy with the 53rd pick is a large reason why. He will play second fiddle to Westbrook to start the season, but with Westbrook being injury prone expect McCoy to see a healthy amount of touches throughout the year.

The bruiser out of Pittsburgh averaged 4.8 yards per carry during his college career and if his 21 touchdown performance of 2008 is any indicator of his future success, dynasty owners should snag him early in their upcoming drafts.

 

BRUNO BOYS SPOTLIGHT

Brian Westbrook (RB): When healthy everyone will agree that Westbrook is one of the best fantasy football running backs in the NFL, but nagging injuries and durability issues forced him to miss two games last season and led to some inconsistencies in his play. Despite totaling 1,438 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns, many Westbrook owners would agree that he was a bit Jekyll & Hyde for their liking.

11 of his 14 TD’s came over four games and Westbrook had 15 or less carries in eight of his 14 games played.  Westbrook will enter this season as the clear-cut starter but with the Eagles looking towards the future, they did spend an early draft pick on a running back.

Don’t be surprised if we see a more balanced rushing attack in Philadelphia this season with Westbrook getting around 70 percent of the touches and LeSean McCoy or Lorenzo Booker taking the rest.

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